Key merchandising assembly and key blank therefor



y 30, 1967 M. T. BASSECHES ETAL. 3,322,270

KEY MERCHANDISING ASSEMBLY AND KEY BLANK THEREFOR Filed May 5, 1966 /36L INVENTORS MARK T. BASSECHES y PAULA T. BASSECHES ant/mam,

United States Patent Ofitice 3,322,270 Patented May 30, 1967 3,322,270 KEY MERCHANDHSING AEM1BLY AND KEY BLANK THEREFOR Mark T. Easseches, Eieasantville, and Paula T. Basseches,

carsdale, N.Y., assignors to independent Lock (Zornpany, Fitchhurg, Mesa, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Miay 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,846 3 Claims. ((11. 206-80) This invention relates to a key blank display device and key blank therefor, and more particularly to a novel key blank display and classification device and blank therefor.

As is well known, key blanks are typically manufacred with a blade portion having an odd or irregular cross section so as to permit the key to be inserted only in a keyway having a matching irregular keyway cross section. This arrangement provides additional security and assures that a key having an improper cross section cannot be inserted into a look not intended to be operated by the key.

Naturally, the height or bitting of the key provides the primary security since, in addition to the proper cross section, in order to operate a lock the blade of the key must be cut properly to align the locking tumblers or disks in the lock housing.

As there are literally thousands of difierent keyway sections, a locksmithing establishment must maintain on hand a very large variety of key blanks in order to be certain to match and be able to duplicate any key brought in by a customer.

In a more recent development, key blanks are sold by chain stores, service stations, hardware stores and like establishments not having the benefit of the attendance of a skilled locksmith. Consequently, a considerable problem has arisen in connection mvith the merchandising of replacement keys.

When the customer presents a key for duplication, the locksmith or clerk in an etficiently run key replacement department must be able promptly to select a replacement key blank which matches the cross section of the customers key. In order to facilitate the selection of the proper blank, the blanks are typically supported on key display boards provided with hooks. Often, adjacent each hook as a means for facilitating the selection of the proper blank, there is some descriptive matter indicating the identity of the key blanks which are to be mounted on the hook.

boxes in which the key blanks are ordinarily provided by the manufacturer. It will be readily recognized that in the event a clerk inadvertently mounts improper key blanks on a hook, great confusion will result. For inindicate a particular hook as for Studebaker automobiles, 1961. After the supply of blanks from such hook if the clerk were to mount any ditferently cross sectioned key blanks on this hook, it would be evident that any keys cut from such blanks would not properly fit the Studebaker keyway.

While some trained locksmiths are sufficiently experienced to discover such error by reason of their familiarity with the shape of keyblank sections, the ordinary clerk in a chain store or hardware store is not. As a result of of key blanks on key display boards, there is annularly a tremendous wastage.

A further difiiculty in key merchandising heretofore himself that the replacement key which he has purchased is, in fact, a correct and workable duplicate of his original key. Often the lock for which the replacement key is intended is located many miles from the establishment Where the key is to be duplicated and the consumer will return to the lock only to find that the replacement key which he has purchased will not even enter the keyway.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a object of the present invention to provide an improved key blank display assembly and key blank.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a key blank display device or board and key blanks therefor wherein it is impossible for a clerk inadvertently or unintentionally to dispose the key blanks in improper position on the board.

A further object of the invention. is the provision of a key blank which will immediately permit the user to determine that the blank selected is identical in cross sec tion to the key to be replaced, so that in the absence of error in cutting procedure (which is normally carried out by fool-proof, semi-automatic key duplicating machines) the replacement key is certain properly to operate the lock for which the original key is designed.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a key board having replacement key blanks mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of a key blank in accordance with the invention, positioned to be mounted on the keyboard of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective perspective view of an embodiment of a key blank in accordance with the invention, in position to be mounted on the support of a key board;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal bled key blank in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, a key board display device 10, which may be in the form of a rectilinear panel, is provided with a multiplicity of key blank supports 11. Unlike the usual key blank supports, which typically constitute nothing more than a rod adapted to pass through the key ring aperture of a key blank, the supports 11 in accordance with the present invention have an irregular cross sectional configuration which exactly matches the cross section of the blade portions 12 of the key blanks which are intended to be mounted on the supports.

It will be appreciated that since each blade portion is ditferently configurated, each support 11 is likewise differently configurated. The supports lll are mounted in projecting .position on the board by any known means, the specific securing means not being pertinent to the present disclosure.

Optionally, as may be understood from the ensuing description, it is possible to utilize a key blank itself, mounted to project generally perpendicularly from the board, as the support means for the replacement blanks.

section through an assemaccordance with the embodiment of configuration. Additionally, the blanks include a bow or head portion 13 which may optionally but preferably From the foregoing it will be apparent that since the key support member 11 calculated to support the key K has a cross sectional configuration which is a duplicate of the cross section of the elongated blade portion 12 of said key K, and since the aperture 15 formed in said key K also has said configuration, it is possible to support the key K on the support member 11 simply by threading the member 11 through the keyway aperture 15. Each group of key blanks intended to be supported on a particular support member of the board has a blade portion of a different cross sectional configuration from each other group and in each instance the keyway aperture 15 formed in the bow or head portion of each group matches in cross section the configuration of its blade.

From the foregoing it is apparent that it would be impossible, for instance, to mount the key K on an incorrect support member 11 since only that support member 11 having a cross section corresponding to the aperture 15 can be sleeved through such aperture. Thus, when all the blanks from a support member 11 are exhausted, the clerk cannot inadvertently dispose key blanks not having the correct matching blade portion on such support member 11, since the support member 11 will not fit through the keyway aperture 15 formed in the head portion thereof.

For example, if the key board adjacent the support member 11 is labeled Ford 1961, it is assured that any blank seated on said member 11 will properly fit in the keyway of a 1961 Ford.

As a further check and means of assuring the consumer that the replacement blank to be cut is a proper one, the consumer may insert his own original key into the aperture in the head of the key blank to be cut.

In the usual manner, the blade portion of the selected, proper blank may be cut or bitted so that the serrations formed in the blank correspond to the lock operating serrations formed on the original key.

In the key embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, wherein like parts have been given like reference numbers, a key blank K, having a blade 12 and a bow or head 13 is provided with an enlarged central aperture 16 in the head. The central aperture 16 forms a receiver or anchoring part for a snap-in plastic insert 17, which is of circular conformation to mach the aperture 16.

Preferably the snap-in insert 17 is formed of resilient plastic material and includes a slightly dished or concave outer periphery 1711 which may be snapped over the convex inner face 13a defining the aperture 16.

It will be understood that the plastic insert is positioned by pressing the same into the aperture, the plastic portions being deformed during the inserting operation and snapping back to their normal shape after the same is positioned as shown in FIGURE 4.

The key blank embodiment of FIGURE 3 may be provided with the usual key ring aperture in the head (not shown) or, after purchase, the plastic insert 17 may be snapped out of the blank and the remaining aperture may be used for supporting the blank on a key chain or the like.

If desired, the snap-out plastic members may be utilized by the establishment as a stock control, since the number of said plastic members of a particular type will be a certain index of the replacement keys of that type which have been sold.

An advantage of utilizing the plastic insert type of embodiment lies in the greater facility with which the keyway slot may be formed in such insert as contrasted with forming the slot in the metal of the head.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the key display device of the present invention assures that only replacement blanks of a particular desired keyway configuration may be mounted on the proper key blank support members.

The novel key devices provide a means for the consumer to check at the point of purchase that the cross section of the replacement blank corresponds with the cross section of the key submitted for duplication.

If desired, the support members 11, adjacent the outer end parts 18, may be beveled, as shown in FIGURE 3, to facilitate mounting of key blanks, and the upper surfaces 19 of said supports may be notched, as at 20, to assure that key blanks mounted on the supports will not accidentally fall or slide off the supports.

If desired, the plastic inserts 17 of the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 may be variously colored, to provide a particularly attractive display or, in addition, to serve a preliminary identifying function.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a key blank display member, a plurality of key support means extending from said display member, said support means each having a different cross sectional configuration from the cross sections of the other said support means, a plurality of groups of lock key blanks having head portions and blade portions, the blade portions of the blanks of each said group having a cross sectional configuration which matches the configuration of one of said support means, and a keyway aperture formed in the head portions of said key blanks, the aperture in each said blank being configurated closely to match the cross sectional outline of the blade portion of said blank, said blanks being supported on said display member with a different support means extending through the keyway apertures of each group, said keyway apertures of the keys of any said group being of a size to prevent the passage through said apertures of all but a selected one of said supports, whereby key blanks may not be inadvertently mounted on support means, the cross-sectional configuration of which does not match the cross-sectional configuration of the blade portion of such blank.

2. A lock key blank having a head portion and a blade portion, said blade portion having an irregular cross section to match a predetermined keyway, and a keyway aperture formed in said head portion of said key, said keyway aperture having an outline matching the cross section of said key.

3. A blank in accordance with claim 2 wherein said head portion defines an opening and said keyway aperture is formed in an insert member mounted in said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 201,810 8/1965 Castellano 211-57 X 1,117,126 11/1914 Bailey. 1,411,252 4/1922 Basett et al 211-59 X 2,273,668 2/1942 Steiner 211-57 X 2,777,317 1/1957 Oill 211-60 X 2,940,183 6/ 1960 Fromberg. 3,189,185 6/1965 Grasso 211-59 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A KEY BLANK DISPLAY MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF KEY SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID DISPLAY MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT MEANS EACH HAVING A DIFFERENT CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION FROM THE CROSS SECTIONS OF THE OTHER SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF LOCK KEY BLANKS HAVING HEAD PORTIONS AND BLADE PORTIONS, THE BLADE PORTIONS OF THE BLANKS OF EACH SAID GROUP HAVING A CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION WHICH MATCHES THE CONFIGURATION OF ONE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND A KEYWAY APERTURE FORMED IN THE HEAD PORTIONS OF SAID KEY BLANKS, THE APERTURE IN EACH SAID BLANK BEING CONFIGURATED CLOSELY TO MATCH THE CROSS SECTIONAL OUTLINE OF THE BLADE PORTION OF SAID BLANK, SAID BLANKS BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID DISPLAY MEMBER WITH A DIFFERENT SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE KEYWAY APERTURE OF EACH GROUP, SAID KEYWAY APERTURES OF THE KEYS OF ANY SAID GROUP BEING OF A SIZE TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE THROUGH SAID APERTURES OF ALL BUT A SELECTED ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS, WHEREBY KEY BLANKS MAY NOT BE INADVERTENTLY MOUNTED ON SUPPORT MEANS, THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF WHICH DOES NOT MATCH THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF THE BLADE PORTION OF SUCH BLANK. 